17 Jan 2017

Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Mr Nonofo Molefhi, has affirmed government’s commitment to working with the Chinese business community to grow the local economy.

He said other avenues of partnership with the Chinese business community was in skills development and technology transfer to make Botswana a strong economy.

Mr Molefhi said government endeavored to facilitate investment in Botswana by any company that offered prospects for growth. He was speaking at the celebration of the Spring Festival gala dinner, which also marked the commencement of New Year, held at Grand palm recently.

“As you celebrate this festival, it is important that you commit yourself to doing things better, to working harder and ensuring that at personal and business level, you deliver more goods on time and with a good price,” he said.

He commended the Chinese Chamber of Commerce for realising the significance of the celebration, which had now become an international product, adding that it was now celebrated not only in Botswana but also in other countries.

“It demonstrates the dynamics of culture, the extent to which culture can be celebrated and enjoyed in distant places, far away from home,” he said.

He said because the Chinese had made Botswana a home, far away from home, it was interesting that they came together to celebrate part of their tradition and culture.

“This celebration showcases Chinese culture, its aspirations and it brings Chinese people in the spirit of brotherhood so that you do not feel lonely because you are not in China,” he said.

He said as most of them were business men and women who were in Botswana to make surplus, it was important that they worked hard to be trusted and being reliable.

“It is important that while we interact, the relationship between the Chinese businesses and Batswana should be that of growing the economy, creating jobs, skills transfer and technology transfer.

In doing so you are helping Botswana to become a viable economy and that can be supported by yourselves as investors,” he said.

For his part, the ambassador of China to Botswana, Mr Zhao Yanbo commended the Chinese Community in Botswana for having inherited the fine traditional virtues of the Chinese.

“You are very friendly to the local people and you work hard, side by side with them. You have made obvious contributions to the economic and social development of Botswana. You care and support the motherland’s development,” he said.

He urged the Chinese to continue to abide by the local laws and restrictions, work harder in an effort to create more jobs for the local people, integrate themselves into the local society and live with them in harmony.

“I encourage you to work intensively for the development of Botswana’s economy and society and also for the promotion of the relations between China and Botswana,” he said. BOPA